Archives—June 2014

The Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) is partnering with Portage Lake District Library to host a special science program to give participants a hands-on look at how scientists study the Great Lakes and what lives there.

The program is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 1. It begins at the Library, on the waterfront in downtown Houghton. Participants will ride the Agassiz to the GLRC, where they’ll visit a laboratory to use microscopes to get a close-up look at the water. They will also dissect a fish stomach to find out what they eat. After the lab, participants travel by Michigan Tech van back to the library for more activities, including:
Book activity in the Library Community Room
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV), by the Dollar Bay High School SOAR group, outside the library on the dock
Scientific excursion on the Agassiz, open to ages 7 and up, departure times 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Boatmaking in the library

Reserve a space on the Agassiz by calling the Portage Lake District Library at 482-4570, or sign up at the library checkout desk. Space is limited.

For more information contact: Joan Chadde at 7-3341 at the GLRC or Chris Alquist at 482-4570 at the Portage Lake District Library.

This week Joan Chadde, education program coordinator for Michigan Tech’s Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, and Christopher Hohnholt, development and outreach director for the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, are in Detroit conducting the Urban Forestry Teacher Institute June 23-27 with teachers from across lower Michigan. They are touring the Hardwoods of Michigan sawmill in Clinton, Hawk Woods Nature Center in Auburn Hills and Belle Isle in Detroit. SFRES Dean Terry Sharik was a guest presenter.

PhD students Maryam Fakhr Hosseini and Steven Landry, both in the Mind Music Machine Lab, applied cognitive science and human factors graduate program, have been selected as ICAD 2014 ThinkTank (Doctoral Consortium) Scholars. They will present their research at a special pre-ICAD 2014 ThinkTank Symposium with leading scholars in the field of auditory display and sonification. The students will receive generous travel support for the conference from the National Science Foundation.

The Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) will partner with Portage District Library to host a special science program that will pique students interest in the Great Lakes and what lives there.

The program is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, and will begin at the library. Participants will ride the Agassiz to the GLRC where they’ll visit a laboratory to use microscopes to peer at the water and dissect a fish stomach to find out what they eat! At the completion of the lab, students and adults will travel by Michigan Tech van back to the library where there will be more to do.

Station Activities

Station One: A library book activity run by the library staff in the community room of the library. All ages are welcome.

Station Two: The remotely operated vehicle run by Dollar Bay High School SOAR and will be held outside on the dock. All ages are welcome.

Station Three: The scientific excursion on Agassiz, which will board at the dock by the library. It is for ages seven and up, with room for 14 youth and adults. The Agassiz departure times are as follows: 6, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. It is advised to arrive 15 minutes early.

Station three also has boat making at the library, which will be run by the library staff and will be held at the swimming pool on the lawn outside. All ages are welcome.

Station Four: A visit to the GLRC Lab to view plankton with a microscope, dissect fish stomachs and examine sediment/Diporeia. The Agassiz will drop off youth and adults at the lab. Lab participants will return to the library via Michigan Tech van.

Station four also will be hosting the opportunity to make A Great Lakes Mural along the library windows. The library staff will be running this event. All ages are welcome.

Reserve a space on the Agassiz by calling the Portage District Library at 482-4570 or sign up at the library checkout desk. First come, first served.

For more information, contact Joan Chadde at 7-3341 at the GLRC or Chris Alquist at 482-4570 at the Portage Lake District Library.

This program is funded by General Motors and the Portage District Library.

Ride the Waves with General Motors (GM) who invites Copper Country youth in grades 4-12 to join scientists from Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) in the exploration of Lake Superior, Portage Waterway and Torch Lake. There are four different programs to choose from–each 4 hours in length–that will accommodate approximately 14 youth and chaperones.

Aquatic Food Web and Lab Investigation
Find out how scientists investigate water quality and collect samples to examine in the lab to find out “what makes a lake trout?” All ages are welcome. A four-hour session (two on the boat and two in lab) on June 23-27, June 30, July 1, 24, and Aug. 1, 4-7.

Mine Waste Remediation and Torch Lake Restoration
The history of the Copper Country is explored by land and water as students visit historic copper milling sites, reclaimed mine waste sites and the bottom of Torch Lake. It is ideal for middle school students. A four-hour session (two on Agassiz and two in Lake Linden) on July 1, Aug. 4-7.

Investigate the Lake with a Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)
Unless you’re a diver, few get to see what lies beneath the waves without a remotely operated vehicle. What surprises await you? This program is ideal for middle/high school students. They are two-to-three hour sessions on Agassiz on July 21, 23 and 30, departing from various locations. An optional shuttle is available from Michigan Tech.

Lake Superior’s Ring of Fire
Explore an area in Lake Superior where the shrimplike organism Diporeia is up to 20 times more abundant than in any other part of Lake Superior! How does this affect the Lake Superior food web? This program is ideal for high school students. A four-hour session on Agassiz on Aug. 18-22.

Register online at the Ride the Waves Registration Form. Please list all dates and times that work for you and we will reply and fit you into the earliest available slots.

Groups of five or more students will be given preference in scheduling, so get with your friends and form a group!

PI Shari Stockero (CLS) and Co-PIs Kedmon Hungwe (CLS) and Ann Humes (Math) were awarded $189,103 from the Michigan Department of Education for their 18-month project “Educators’ Professional Development Institute Series (EPDIS): Engaging Students in the Standards of Mathematical Practice.”

This is a reminder that the deadline for Summer Science Camp registration is today. The students enjoy coming to the Great Lakes Research Center for hands-on science classes and love the “immersion” of taking classes all day at Nara Nature Center. It features small class sizes and focused, diverse learners!

Educators can participate in the wolf/moose research on Isle Royale National Park through ED5560: Ecology of Isle Royale for Educators. Applications for Moosewatch for Educators will be accepted until Friday, June 27. The course dates are July 29 through August 6.

There are also still a few openings for Moosewatch Team IV. Trip dates are Friday, June 27 through August 6. Details about the trip and how to apply are on the website.